Traders at Kabudaire Market in Fort Portal City are counting losses after a fire gutted a section of the facility on the morning of 3rd May 2023, destroying property worth millions of shillings.
The cause of the fire is still unknown but the police have launched investigations.  Kabudaire Market has been one of the major sources of revenue for Fort Portal Municipal Council, now  Fort Portal City Council for over a decade.

Eyewitness told COU Family TV that the fire started at about 5 am from one of the kiosks in Kabudaire Market, and then spread to others.

The market hosts a diverse array of traders, selling charcoal,
firewood, local brew, and foodstuffs such as chapati and pork. The busy market not only serves as a major source of goods and services for the local community but also brings in significant revenue for Fort Portal City Council.

One of the traders, Tigaita Peace, said that the fire started when was sleeping in one of the nearby houses with her children. She almost died in the house from smoke inhalation after someone locked her door from outside.

By the time some vendors arrived at the market after learning of the fire, a lot of merchandise had been reduced to ashes even after the police and Fire Brigade tried to contain the fire.

Stellah Birungyi, a vendor selling firewood and charcoal, said that she had just stocked up on charcoal which was reduced to ashes.

The traders appealed to the Government for relief, saying that their source of income was destroyed in the fire.

Steven Lubega, the Chairperson of Kabudaire Market said more than 30 traders lost their merchandise in the fire.
The Regional Police Spokesperson for Rwenzori West, Vincent Twesige, said in a statement that they suspect Arson.

Jonan T.